Category Archives: The Music Highlight

Would you change the way you get a message across to someone if you felt you weren’t being heard?

Seems like that’s a question religious communities often ask when it comes to getting their message heard by a younger audience. There’s a constant debate between conservative and liberal believers about changing their delivery to reach youth. But while they’re changing their delivery, could it be possible they could be altering their most important messages?

I wonder what Erica Campbell was thinking when she created her latest gospel hit “I Luh God,” which video was released this week.

Gospel hit singer of “God in Me” has taken it up a notch by introducing her listeners to a new style of gospel we haven’t heard her do before. I’ll even say it makes me raise an eyebrow. I never thought the infamous MaryMary would result to “keeping up” with the ages. I often wonder about what’s happening in this current era of gospel music.

What in the world is “Trap Gospel?”

There’s only one video I’ve seen that could come close to my idea of what Trap Gospel might be and it was found while scrolling my Facebook time line. (Click here to listen to I’m In Love with The Cocoa Gospel Version). No one can top the I’m In Love with the Cocoa hit!

The instrumental for “I Luh God” and its repetitive phrase “I Luh God” lost me as I forgot why I love God while I heard the song!! (I really didn’t forget. I’m just over exaggerating.) It’s annoying to hear. The only good that came from the song was the beat. I could have stole it and rapped or sung on it myself.

There’s so much more to be said about the creator of the universe. Wouldn’t you even say that’s the least? The word “gospel” alone stands for Jesus’ story, which we heard nothing about in this song. I wouldn’t choose to name this gospel music at all. But is it trap music? No, it’s just Ms. Campbell singing over a trap beat.

I have a question, too. What’s luh? “Luh” isn’t a word, though.

I get the point but I always think of what could God be thinking when he hears people singing this song? Does he say “I luh you, too?” or does he ask why the actual word love wasn’t used? Does he think that using luh verses love changes the message he hopes to convey?

There’s nothing wrong with creating a new genre referred to as “Trap gospel.” There’s nothing wrong with creating a new genre of music at all. But gospel music is used to uplift and deliver an important message, and when it’s purpose isn’t met, how can it be used to change lives around them? Gospel music without the gospel in it is simply music; words on a beat.

What are your thoughts? Has gospel music turned for the better or worse? Leave your comments below.

Baltimore’s turmoil due to riots and protests for Freddie Gray have blossomed a hefty amount of creative masterpieces from independent artist of all sort. The Internet is buzzing of colorful opinions, many pale and others vibrant, depicting artists’ perception of peace and violence; justice and injustice; and moral or immoral.

Encouraging words from these rappers are expected since so many young people support these artist. We need them to inspire our kids to do better; to seek success and progression instead of lawlessness and turbulence, as the world watched Baltimore Youth as they rioted and looted as a result of police brutality towards Freddie Gray.

“Dumb Dumb” artist scratched the surface of reaching the you by releasing “No SunShine” in honor of Freddie Gray. Unfortunately, I do not believe he took this opportunity by storm. So much more could be done. So much more could be said.

“No SunShine” doesn’t get much praise from me because there’s more to be said than what these children who live in these neighborhoods already know. There are ways to get a message across without stating the obvious of what’s happening in our city’s black communities. We know of what our state’s governmental policies enable and forbid us from doing. We know about the “slums” that blacks have systematically become accustomed to. My concern was for artists like Young Moose to do a bit more, maybe lead more as an example.

I guess, I’m expecting too much in such a short amount of time. Huh?

Where are the programs they’re continuously supporting. As I look at each artists background and choice of brand for their music, I’m a little concerned about outsiders not understanding what’s needed to be said for our city. It could easily be misinterpreted if someone would listen to more of Young Mouse’s discography as his music is majority about drugs and trap life.

We need more “substance.” We need more positive messages young people will enjoy and support.

What do you think? Did you like Young Moose’s “No Sunshine?” Leave your comments below.

When it came time Mr. Duck Myers would finally sent me something to hear, I was amazed because not many people who walk up to me at an event for CBS follows through and actually are talented. Haha. “Like Stars” is his second song submitted.

Thumbs up:

Like their name (Rage)aholics, the song gives me that feeling of wanting to lose control. It’s one of those get up and party hard like you were born to live a Project X type of lifestyle.

I suddenly want to make a documentary of my life’s desire to want party. Hmm…

I’m uncertain if this song has visuals, like a music video or lyric video. But I can picture this video being very colorful and full of alluring activity similar to what goes on in the film Project X. The director might have to “eff” around with these effects to create their own sequel for the movie.

They better call me to come be on the set. I’ll be the one throwing money.

What do you think about Like Stars? Does this sound like a song worthy of radio play? Leave your comments below.

It’s finally here. After the wait, I can no longer say “Sorry for the Wait” like I’m Mr. Weezy F. Baby, himself. My first EP is here for you to take a listen to. It’s about time!

As part of my list of tasks to complete on my bucket list, I can say this has been the most lengthy of things to complete thus far. I’ve caught myself not wanting to finish it a few times, and the production process had quite a few bumps along the way. But I said “eff it” to my woes, and decided to drop what I had anyway. It’s the first of what I hope to be more music projects so I chose not to beat myself up for how it sounds. I know I’ll produce way better material in the future. I’m just glad to have had the opportunity to do something like this. Writing music has become one of my many creative activities I do to keep my mind busy.

So it’s now official; I will scratch off release mixtape off my Bucket List! Yay!

You may download my EP “Songs From Da Dugout” via my Bandcamp page or soundcloud at Alissa Feré. But to make it more easier for you, take a look at the Playlist below and you can download from there. Thanks for listening!

Special Thank You to the lovely staff of people who helped me with this project:

With less than two weeks away from my EP “Songs From Da Dugout” release, I am pleased to finally release the official cover artwork for my project to the public. The EP is expected to release March 21, 2015 via the Alissa Feré Bandcamp and Soundcloud music pages.

Like many of my other projects, Briana Ragler was given the pleasures of handling majority of my visuals. Starting from taking on the responsibility of styling my creative persona to designing my cover of my first musical project, Briana, also known as recording artist Boutzie’, utilizes all her creative abilities to make sure Alissa Feré was ready for the world to take in. She was my photographer, stylist, and graphic designer.

Ayeee!

I’ve decided to take the Rebellious Rebel approach while working on my EP because Briana’s creative style is that “clear and clean” image I was aiming for that steers away from the average look associated with sports and hip-hop. I commonly see a more “rigid and rough” images used for things associated with both hip-hop and sports. Both are hard topics dominated by men, which I am not. So my thoughts for my project already being assumed as “hard” had to be challenged to seem more “fluffier” for Feré’s sake.

By creating a more cleaner representation for this project, I hope to promote interests that’s grabs the onlooker’s eye. I want my listeners to know from the moment they see the cover that there’s meaning behind being left in the Dugout for women. This clear and concise illustration captures the beauty behind what I believe this game we call love really is. It’s a cloudy, mysterious, dangerous, and very uneasy to understand, but it continues to be alluring, mesmerizing, and worth taking. Briana captured that we’ll in this very simply put work of art.

On top of it all, it’s very professionally presented. *applauds*

Along with the help from Baltimore artist FLuX, who’s the owner of the Baltimore brand The Dugout Dojo and the engineer of “Songs From Da Dugout,” I was ensured that each song would sound superb. I had no doubt about how my EP would turn out because listening to FLuX’s previous works, I was already blown away. (Listen to The Sky Is Blue by FLuX, here.)

The EP’s track listing is also finalized with six semi- complete songs ready for me to share.

José (Liquor Talkn) ft. Boutzie (prod. Doowy Lloh)

Rufus Bush (prod. mjnichols)

Only You Ft. Quinn Shabaz

Tonight (prod. Cmbeats)

When The Stars Align ft. Leon Dominick (prod. Davinci)

(Bonus Track): Pleasant Nightmares (prod. André 3000)

“Songs From Da Dugout” is expected to release this month March 21, 2015. For more updates on Alissa Feré, subscribe to Doc’s Castle Media social sites.

I decided to get a little creative for this release. I thought Why should I leave you guys with only an expected date for my project? I should give you a little more, and maybe some more background to what to look forward to. So I partnered up with my favorite photographer/blogger to give something extra as we wait for my dropping day.

Songs From Da Dugout is a representation of my emotions. Often I feel I’m left in limbo on a lot of issues when I’m dealing with guys. I think lots of women can relate. It can feel like I’m sitting in a dugout waiting to be called on for the next play. It can get restless waiting on these guys, and they should know that I don’t wait very long for my moment.

Women have so many questions that could be left unanswered while waiting on their next call in a partnership; there’s so many expectations that should be fulfilled on the behalf of the man that aren’t met in relationships. I relate to those women because when someone’s left in the dugout, how is anyone expected to win the game? How is anyone expected to conquer the battle?

Baltimore artist Boutzie arrives on the indie music scene with her new single “Intoxico,” a track meant to show the woes of partaking in the various choices of recreational activity.

Indeed, this isn’t your ordinary turn up “let’s pop a molly” type of hip-hop song. Many tracks I come across usually praises the “glorious” life of drugs and living in the fast lane. But this submission doesn’t quite get you hopping out your seat ready to twerk or even imagine yourself in a room full of “Thots” ready to “pop-off,” like an average 2 Chainz song. Instead, it inflicts a self-conscious feeling. Thoughts like ‘why do I even do this drug or condone this behavior’ pops in your head while listening to it.

With lines like ‘Oh it’s murder, the conceivable thoughts that’s unheard of…,’ I’m unsure if I’m suppose to feel a little dark inside for wanting to take that shot of Jose I commonly do.

Sheeeeeesh. Should I chill or what? *Pours shot down kitchen sink drain*

Intoxico features Baltimore artist Jimmy Apoet and Baltimore artist and producer FLuX, both very talented emcees and previously highlighted on Doc’s Castle Media. With a talented group like this coming together to spread common awareness in this very unique way, a person could already tell this may even spark a movement.

I love the eery feeling that comes from hearing “Intoxico.” Though it makes me question my lifestyle, its “read between the lines” call to action is rewarding not only to me, but also in generation that prides itself in doing illegal and very questionable recreational activities. With depicting the dark truths of how being intoxicated can overtake your body in mesmerizing, without a care, sense, maybe there is a chance to push these unconscious motives that I have for the song in others; subconsciously just suck the “turn up” out of their little unruly bodies.

I sound like I’m 75 years old. Believe, I do turn up. *cough cough*

Let’s be for real here. If more artists can take part in pushing songs like this, people would walk around second guessing what they do for fun. It might not be a guarantee to resist but it leave space to ponder. I like when people are made to think.

This new sound from Boutzie makes me anticipate what the visuals, if there should be any, may look like for this eerie track. I see darkness, lots of slow motion shots, and maybe a creepy church bell? I guess, we’ll have to wait and see.